On Saturday our Strongman Camp Members were fortunate to receive coaching techniques and insights from Queensland Cowboys 2015 NRL premiership player, QLD Maroons and Australian Kangaroos Rep Ben Hannant.
1. Never made a rep team until he was 17.
2. Doubted he would make it to the elite level as he had the worst fitness testing scores at the broncos and roosters. He vowed to himself he would never let that happen again! And busted his backside into the ground to work on his fitness! He was sick of coming last! And through hard training is now one of the fittest at his clubs!
3. Was told he would never make it. Full of doubters. Best way to silence the critics is be that good they can’t ignore you. Outwork your opposition.
4. It’s doing the work when no one is watching that counts. 2 hours training in the blistering heat with great tribe members and great coaches is money in the bank for the upcoming season!
5. Credits Wayne Bennett as one his mentors and remembers Wayne’s first words to him…
You’re no better than anyone else. And no one else is better than you! Only 1 of you here will make it! He got despondent and was going to go home! But instead he chose to stay and work his backside off!
6. Hard work beats talent when talent won’t work hard.
7. Spoke about Jonathan thurstens and Billy slater…he arrived at training at 8.55am billy slater and thurstens practicing taking high balls, practicing goal kicking from 7am in the morning 2 hours before the start of QLD training.
8. Elite performance has nothing to do with chance! Hours and hours of practice!! It’s not the most gifted athletes that succeed it’s the athletes that work the hardest!
9. Everything you do impacts upon your performance. Sleep, nutrition, hydration and training. Hannant never drinks alcohol, does not smoke and does not use drugs-ever!
10. Ben’s motivation is his family. His mouthguard actually says family on it-to remind him why he does what he does!!
11. Giving something back to the community is an important of Bens make up.
All the best,
Joey Hayes
